McDonald's Belleville High School Athlete of the Year Program
Through the generosity of Robert Doyle, owner of the Belleville McDonald’s Restaurants, the Hall of Fame Committee conducts the annual High School Athlete of the Year Program. This program recognizes the Senior Female and Male Athletes of the Year from eight local High Schools – Albert College, Bayside Secondary School, Centennial Secondary Schoool, Eastside Secondary School (formerly Moira Secondary School, Quinte Secondary School), Nicholson Catholic College, Quinte Christian High School, Sir James Whitney, St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School – and selects the overall Senior Female and Male Athlete of the Year for Belleville.
It is estimated that over 25% of students at a high school will participate in one or more inter-school sport activities. At the eight schools involved in this program, over 2000 student athletes participate in athletic programs supported by volunteer teacher coaches and volunteers from the community.
Format for McDonald’s Belleville High School Athlete of the Year.
Our 2024/2025 McDonald’s Belleville High School Athletes of the Year are:
Alexandra Dewar from Bayside Secondary School and Aidan Crawford from Eastside Secondary School.
Alexandra Dewar, played multiple sports throughout her high school career with a prime focus on rugby. She also excelled in soccer, hockey and swimming. She led the Red Devils to three consecutive Ontario championship tournaments.
Outside of school, Alexandra has demonstrated her athletic prowess as a member of the Belleville Bulldogs Sr. Women’s Rugby, Eastern Ontario Representative Rugby, Ontario Rugby, and Canada East U18 Rugby teams. She exemplified consistent leadership through her participation on Bayside’s Athletic Council and is also a community soccer and wrestling referee.
Alexandra will be attending Queen’s University in the fall, where she will continue to pursue her passion for rugby as a Golden Gael. Congratulations to Alexandra Dewar, as the 2024-2025 McDonald’s High School Athlete of the Year!
Aidan Crawford, Eastside Secondary School’s Athlete of the Year is an outstanding athlete, participating in football, basketball, and track and field over the course of his four years of high school. His passion is track and field, with a focus on throwing events. Aidan dominated Bay of Quinte and COSSA, where he earned a gold medal in javelin, discus, and shot put. These achievements allowed him to advance to OFSSA, where his hard work and determination helped him to win a silver in javelin and bronze in shot put.
When not participating himself, Aidan is helping to foster the next generation of athletes as a coach with Spirits Basketball house league, and a youth throw coach with the Lynx Track and Field club. Aidan was recruited by Division One Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland and will be attending there this fall on a track and field scholarship. Congratulations to Aidan Crawford, as the 2024-2025 McDonald’s High School Athlete of the Year!
Our 2023/2024 McDonald’s Belleville High School Athletes of the Year are:
Brooke Gallagher from Centennial Secondary School and Greg Papakiriazis from Nicholson Catholic College.
Brooke Gallagher, honoured as Centennial Secondary’s 2024 Athlete of the Year, is an exceptional multi-sport athlete and leader. Throughout her four years at Centennial Secondary School, Brooke has competed in basketball, rugby, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and golf. She has particularly excelled in basketball and rugby. Brooke played a key role on Centennial’s basketball squad, helping the team achieve Bay of Quinte Gold and COSSA Gold, as well as a silver medal in the OFSAA Basketball Championship.
Beyond school sports, Brooke has been a standout player for the Belleville Bulldogs RFC and has represented the Ontario Blues provincial rugby program. Known for her incredible coachability and outstanding character, Brooke’s presence shines both on and off the field or court. After the remarkable achievement of being recruited by Wilfrid Laurier University for both rugby and basketball, Brooke will be attending WLU on a rugby scholarship in the fall.
Brooke Gallagher with McDonald’s Representative Mallory Martina
Greg Papakiriazis with McDonald’s Representative Mallory Martina.
Recognized as repeat recipient of Nicholson College’s Athlete of the Year Award, Gregory Papakiriazis is an extraordinary multi-sport talent. Throughout his high school career at Nicholson College, Greg has excelled in rugby, cross country, soccer, basketball, hockey, ultimate frisbee, and tennis. His outstanding performance in basketball contributed to Nicholson College’s success in numerous Bay of Quinte and COSSA tournaments, culminating in NCC securing a gold medal in the 2024 OFSAA Basketball Championship.
Greg’s versatility and dedication across multiple sports are complemented by his remarkable coachability and strong character, solidifying his reputation as a remarkable athlete. Gregory is looking forward to attending Queen’s University for Commerce in the fall and aspires to join the Gaels Basketball team.
Past Winners
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2024 / 2025 - Alexandra Dewar, Bayside Secondary School. Aidan Crawford, Eastside Secondary School.
2023 / 2024 - Brooke Gallagher, Centennial Secondary School. Greg Papakiriazis, Nicholson Catholic College.
2022 / 2023 - Katie McFaul, Centennial Secondary School. Jay Solomon, Eastside Secondary School.
2021 / 2022 - Talia Vreugdenhil, Quinte Christian High School. Mason Duvall, Centennial Secondary School.
2019 / 2020 - Kari Read, Centennial Secondary School. Mathew Berry, Eastside Secondary School.
2018 / 2019 - Natasha Luffman, Centennial Secondary School. Braden Tebworth, Eastside Secondary School.
2017 / 2018 - Amy Viera, Nicholson Catholic College. Carson Waite, Centennial Secondary School.
2016 / 2017 - Piper McKinney, Nicholson Catholic College. Shayne Simpson, St. Theresa Catholic secondary School.
2013 / 2014 - Emma McGarvey, Nicholson Catholic College. Aiden Bailey-McDade, Moira secondary School.
2012 / 2013 - Katie Svoboda, Centennial Secondary School. Matt McDougall, Moira Secondary School.
2011 / 2012 - Heidi Henderson, Quinte Secondary School. Chase Maracle, Moira Secondary School.
2010 / 2011 - Jenni Thompson, Nicholson Catholic College. Chad Bain, Quinte Secondary School.
2009 / 2010 - Cindy Nelles, St.Theresa Catholic Secondary School. Chris Laidley, Bayside Secondary School.
2008 / 2009 - Taylor Whitney, Quinte Secondary School. Mike Cathcart, Nicholson Catholic College.
2007 / 2008 - Erika Portt, Centennial Secondary School. Derek McConnell, Centennial Secondary School.
2005 / 2006 - Andrea Critch, Quinte Secondary School. Evan Briden, Quinte Secondary School.
2004 / 2005 - Jordon MacConnell, Centennial Secondary School. Jimmy Allin, Quinte Secondary School.
2003 / 2004 - Sara Maybee, Nicholson Catholic College. Peter Quinney, Centennial Secondary School
2002 / 2003 - Elyse Cole, Quinte Secondary School. Mike McIntyre, Moira Secondary School.
2001 / 2002 - Lana Nisbet, Centennial Secondary School. Alex Vanags, Quinte Secondary School.
2000 / 2001 - Terri Smith, Moira Secondary School. Ryan Pyear, Centennial Secondary School.
1999 / 2000 - Lindsay Butcher, Centennial Secondary School. Kevin Allison, Centennial Secondary School.
1998 / 1999 - Tabitha Pope, Quinte Secondary School. Nick Martin, Moira Secondary School.
1996 / 1997 - Melissa Musclow, Centennial Secondary School. Tyson Beach, Centennial Secondary School.
1995 / 1996 - Tory Chapman, Moira Secondary School. Mark Coffey, Nicholson Catholic College.
1994 / 1995 - Kristen McClaren, Centennial Secondary School. Ryan Watson, Moira Secondary School.
1993 / 1994 - Jennifer Mills, Centennial Secondary School. Rob Juricevic, Centennial Secondary School.
1992 / 1993 - Lisa Hewson, Bayside Secondary School. Jason Clapp, Centennial Secondary School.
1991 / 1992 - Tamara Von Semler, Quinte Secondary School. Tim Farrell, Nicholson Catholic College.
1990 / 1991 - Khrista Tylecki, Quinte Secondary School. Marc Sontrop, Nicholson Catholic College.
1989 / 1990 - Laura Empey, Nicholson Catholic College. Michael Faulds, Centennial Secondary School.
1988 / 1989 - Liisa Wannan, Moira Secondary School. Scott Duggan, Nicholson Catholic College.
1987 / 1988 - Tammy Staple, Centennial Secondary School. Jamie McCabe, Nicholson Catholic College.